Tansy Thrift's Plum Tree Orchard

Tansy Thrift’s

Plum Tree Orchard

From Court in Between

Source: Tansy planted it at d’Chevalier Manor

Significance: She was hoping to establish tree-rule

Fate: Growing happily

~~~~~

She set the teapot on the grass. “Tree-rule is the reason I planted the plum trees. They don’t take long to bear, but it’s the years of growth that matter.”

Tansy Thrift was in the unenviable position of looking after someone else’s horse. To do so, she moved from her father’s cottage to the deserted d’Chevalier Manor. She didn’t move into the manor house, as she didn’t feel it would be appropriate to take a horse in there, so she and Art made themselves at home in the stable.

By the tree-rule law of Over There, Tansy knew that if she established trees, especially productive ones, and maintained them for seven years, she could claim the ground where they grew. Therefore, she added her own small patch of plum trees to the old established orchard. She chose plums because they were easy to grow, versatile and bore quickly.

The hereditary heir of the manor came to claim his horse when the trees were still a few months short of seven years old. Tansy felt both annoyed and defensive, but to her relief Court Leopold agreed she’d been sensible.

. If anyone should have that manor it’s you. It will be yours if you stay on for another half year or so. Those young trees should give you tree-rule right.”

He saw her look of dismay.

“Have I said something to upset you? I can understand it if you never want to see the place again.”

She set the teapot on the grass. “Tree-rule is the reason I planted the plum trees. They don’t take long to bear, but it’s the years of growth that matter.”

“That was a most sensible idea,” he said steadily.

“You don’t mind?”

“I don’t mind. How could I?”